What Can Teenagers Do in NYC in the Evening?

It's hard to pick just a few good entertainment sources for teenagers in New York City. You could spend a month in the Big Apple and never run out of things to do. The good news is, it's not hard to find fun, safe and affordable things for young people to do.

  1. Live Music

    • Cafe Wha? has been a Greenwich Village favorite for nearly 50 years, and helped launch the careers of several famous performers. Teens can grab a bite to eat and enjoy a musical guest every night of the week. Young people under age 21 must be accompanied by an adult. There is live music available every night at the Knitting Factory, not to mention periodic poetry readings, experimental DJs and even occasional author appearances. Teens under 18 are welcome as long as they have an adult with them.

    Fun and Games

    • Thrill-seekers will get their adrenaline pumping at Luna Park on Coney Island, which is home to extreme rides like the Sling Shot, which shoots brave park-goers 150 feet into the sky at 90 miles per hour. A visitor can also try his hand at old carnival game favorites like Whac-A-Mole and many others. The Chelsea Piers Sports Complex provides an indoor rock climbing wall, swimming pool, sand volleyball and many other opportunities for physical fun. A spent teen can regain her energy at the complex's cafe and sushi bar.

    Sporting Events

    • In New York City, most baseball lovers are either major Mets fanatics or Yankees devotees. Mets games are held at CitiField, and the Yankees play at Yankee Stadium. Both teams hold special events and promotions throughout the season. For young basketball fans, there's the Knicks, who play at Madison Square Garden. Talent competitions are often held at Knicks games, and audiences are treated to special performances by the Knicks Acroback Tumblers, and guest DJs. The Brooklyn Nets play at the Barclays Center, with visits from the BrooklyKnight, the official Nets guardian; the Brooklynettes, performing dance and dunk routines; and the Brooklyn Nets Kids dancers.

    Shopping

    • Teenagers who are into comics, gaming and cult movie and TV shows will love Forbidden Planet, located at 832 Broadway. Comic books, DVDs, action figures, graphic novels and gaming gear -- these are just a handful of things available for purchase, and Forbidden Planet is one of the biggest sellers of these items in the world. Even "big" kids are impressed by FAO Schwartz, one of the biggest and most prolific toy stores in the world. Located on Fifth Avenue, the store includes a candy shop known as Schweet Treats, which was recently redesigned and expanded.

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